OK so like when did you suddenly know????

[TeresaL]

Over compensated to prove I was all man because of social regulations of the 60's and 70's era.
In the 80's-90's I became more aware and started to try to come to and understanding but shoved it back into the back of my mind.
In 2012 (my change date) I said screw it time for me to be me and do some education on my own and ended up here and finally came out which was the best thing I ever did.
I feel free to express myself in any way I desire.

Tracii, I'm able to use most of your background. My difference is that as a toddler, I would get into mommy's stuff and hide it. She would always find the stash. That's because it was only hidden under my bed. LOL

I really, really loved trying on girdles and bras during the fifties and sixties, and would do so whenever I was alone in a female family member's home. It never ended or even stalled for very long. But the guilt and shame caused me to go into overcompensating on the male side during my teens. I did not believe myself to be into transvestism, even though now it's clear that I was. Boy did I ever fight to not give in.

My aha moment came several years after I was married, in the 1980's. Coulda shoulda had it before we were married, but that wasn't meant to be. We were grossly undereducated in gender studies those days. General therapy was poor to the point of using shock treatment on the poor cross dresser who chose to go to them.